The last Grand Slam of the season, the US Open, will start next week. By all indications, former world number one Novak Djokovic (35) is not allowed to participate – something that US tennis legend John McEnroe (63) is campaigning for.
It seemed for a long time that Novak Djokovic would not have a chance to participate in the US Open because he did not take the Corona vaccine. The Serb is automatically registered for the tournament, but is expected to cancel. The same has happened at the tournaments he entered automatically in the US earlier this year, most recently at the Masters 1000 last week in Cincinnati.
Djokovic was also not allowed to take part in the Australian Open in January, after he was expelled from the country due to a lack of vaccination. In the United States, a full vaccination for non-Americans is required to enter the country.
In a statement issued in July, the US Open confirmed that it would follow the current guidelines of the authorities. At a digital press conference featuring VG on Monday, Marca asked John McEnroe – who will serve as Eurosport’s expert during the tournament – if he thought it was fair that Djokovic, after all sun signs, could not participate.
No, I don’t think it’s fair. I think it’s “bullshit,” frankly. I don’t know if you can quote me on that, but I think it’s a joke, says the American at the press conference.
Djokovic impressed at Wimbledon this summer:
Djokovic himself wrote on Instagram earlier this summer that he is preparing as if he has a chance to compete in the United States, and is crossing his fingers that he will have the chance to enter the country. Due to the many tournaments Djokovic missed – and the fact that no rating points were awarded at Wimbledon, where he won – Djokovic slipped to sixth in the world rankings. As long as he does not participate in the US Open, he will be at best seventh after the tournament. It will likely come out of the top ten.
– Maybe there is a reason why he has 21 (Grand Slam titles) and I have seven. I would take the vaccine and play, but he has a clear opinion and you have to respect that. At this point in the pandemic, we’re two and a half years into the pandemic…the idea that he can’t come here to play is a joke to me,” McEnroe said.
You can watch everything from the US Open on Discovery+ and Eurosport.
Only Rafael Nadal, who won the Australian Open and French Open this year, has won more Grand Slam titles (22) than Djokovic in the men’s team. Together with Roger Federer (20 Grand Slam titles), they have been fighting for several years to become the person to end his career with the most slam victories from the four Grand Slam tournaments.
– Despite that, I think he could still reach 25 years old. It got complicated, because this would have to burden him mentally, McEnroe believes.
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